Discover White Salmon’s Vibrant Wine Scene in the Columbia Gorge AVA: Four Downtown Tasting Rooms and Ten Wineries Within Minutes

Nestled along the Washington side of the Columbia River, White Salmon is your gateway to an extraordinary wine experience. In a 40-mile stretch from east to west, the Columbia Gorge AVA (American Viticultural Area) showcases a diverse range of grape varieties, nurtured by unique microclimates and volcanic soils. This combination creates the perfect environment for crafting exceptional wines, making this region a hidden gem that’s rapidly gaining acclaim.

White Salmon stands out as a hub for wine enthusiasts, offering not only exquisite tasting rooms and wineries but also a lively calendar of wine-focused events. Whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur or simply exploring the world of wine, White Salmon is the perfect place to begin your journey.

Trailblazing Women in Winemaking: Columbia Gorge AVA

The Columbia Gorge AVA is home to a dynamic group of women winemakers who are breaking barriers and creating a legacy. These passionate and talented individuals are building their own brands in innovative ways—whether through intimate pop-up events, word-of-mouth recommendations, or by honing their craft while collaborating with renowned wineries in the region. Their creativity and dedication are driving the local wine scene to new heights.

Meet an Emerging Star: Jure Poberaj of Poberaj Wines

Among the exciting winemakers shaping the future of White Salmon’s wine country is Jure Poberaj, the visionary behind Poberaj Wines. Inspired by his uncle, Josko Gravner—widely regarded as one of the world’s most esteemed winemakers—Jure is bringing his own flair to the Columbia Gorge. His vineyard, located just a few miles outside White Salmon, reflects his deep respect for the region’s natural beauty and potential.

“I’m grateful to live and work in White Salmon, surrounded by vineyards and fruit orchards,” says Poberaj. “This area is up-and-coming and exciting in the wine world.”

---

Downtown White Salmon Wine Tasting Experiences

Begin your wine journey in the heart of downtown White Salmon. With four inviting tasting rooms and a variety of exceptional dining options, it’s the ideal spot to sip, savor, and set the stage for your wine country adventure.

CLYZM WINES TASTING ROOM

CLYZM Wines began with a serendipitous discovery by Austin Culver, who stumbled upon an overgrown vineyard just a few miles from White Salmon. The sight of resilient vines thriving at high altitudes, intertwined with towering pine trees, captivated him. Austin knew he had found something extraordinary.

“Growing up working in vineyards, I realized I wanted to create a wine label that highlights the unique character of exceptional vineyards throughout the Columbia Gorge and beyond,” says Austin.

The CLYZM tasting room represents the next step in Austin’s journey—a space where his winemaking vision meets the community, inviting wine lovers to share in the story of these remarkable vineyards and the wines they inspire.

Le Doubblé Troubblé Wine Co

Christopher Stiffler and McIntosh Forrence, both equally passionate about good wine and deep powder, met while chasing the great wine and incredible snow. Lucky for us, they have landed in White Salmon, where wine and skiing meet. In 2018, Le Doubblé Troubblé Clubhouse (tasting room) opened for business and is now a favorite local hangout. “We like to think that our tasting room is homey with comfy couch spots to hang out in or belly up to the bar. It also has an open kitchen style that adds to the homey vibe. We leaned into the ski theme for décor, with lots of old skis and ski art around the place. We want to be a warm, inviting, and relaxing place, and I think we nailed it,” says Christopher.

Ridge of Wonders at the Inn of the White Salmon

Nestled within the charming Inn of the White Salmon, the Ridge of Wonders Tasting Room offers a serene and inviting space to explore the vibrant wines of the Columbia Gorge. With its focus on showcasing handcrafted, small-batch wines that highlight the unique terroir of the region, this tasting room provides an intimate experience for wine lovers. Visitors can sip and savor while enjoying the inn’s cozy ambiance and stunning gardens, making it the perfect spot to unwind and immerse yourself in the local wine culture.

Soča Wine Shop & Bar

At Soča Wine Shop & Bar, flavor and curiosity take center stage, offering a constant invitation to explore something new. “It’s part wine library, part community gathering space, inspired by enotecas—the regional wine shops of Italy—and similar local wine havens in other winegrowing regions,” shares owner and winemaker, Bethany Kimmel. Whether you’re selecting a case to take home or savoring a single glass, stepping into Soča feels like stepping out of the ordinary and into a world of sensory delight, where every visit brings the joy of discovery.

---

10 Must-Visit Wineries Just Minutes from White Salmon in the Columbia Gorge AVA

Head west to Underwood or east to Lyle from White Salmon, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by incredible wineries and breathtaking views. Whichever direction you choose, you’re in for an unforgettable experience of wine and scenery that will leave you in awe.

Wineries Near White Salmon – Lyle Washington

COR CELLARS

COR Cellars, featured in Sunset Magazine, Wine Spectator, NYTimes, and many more (not even counting the media surrounding the architecture), is a modern-vibe wine-tasting room, courtyard, and boho-aesthetic tents sprinkled around the vineyard.  You feel like you’re a part of the wine-making process in the courtyard and barrel room and a part of the COR family while walking around the vineyards.

COR means HEART in Latin, as “good wine pleases the human heart.”  COR believes wine is the perfect mix of agriculture, art, and science – the things that set us aside as a species and speak to our evolution on this earth.

Born in New York City and raised in the wilds of Pennsylvania and Utah, Luke Bradford moved to Washington to attend Evergreen State College in Olympia. Studying sustainable agriculture while exploring the mountains and rivers of Washington, he developed an interest in wine on a climbing trip to northern Italy. Guided by a desire to integrate his love for agriculture, history, and art, he committed to a life in wine.

SYNCLINE WINERY

The definition of Syncline is a trough of stratified rock in which the beds dip toward each other from either side.  Syncline is also the name of the popular hiking and mountain biking area near by the Syncline Winery, which follows the dramatic Coyote Wall Formation.

Poppie and James Mantone relocated their home to the Columbia River Gorge, lured by the stark wildness of the mountains and whitewater rivers. Here, passion for Rhône and sparkling wines led them to explore the emerging potential of vineyards in Washington State.  They purchased land in the Columbia Gorge AVA ideal for planting vines in 2003. They began building and cultivating what is now 17 acres of producing estate vineyards and a boutique-sized winemaking facility.

They have built a strong reputation as a creative, limited-production estate winery with a determined vision of creating world-class wines while maintaining biodynamic estate vineyards, green building practices, and innovative winemaking. Production is kept under 5,000 cases annually to ensure intimacy with each barrel and vine.

DOMAINE POUILLON

Alexis and Juliet Pouillon practice traditional artisan winemaking techniques: gently guiding the wine, allowing it to mature in the cellar before bottling and labeling each by hand.  Harvest times are based not only on ripeness; but climate, color, acidity, and potential flavors. The grapes are hand-harvested and processed in our small winery by an intrepid crew of wine lovers.

Alexis and Juliet make wines that showcase the vineyard and climate. Living in an area that sees drastic climate changes from one year to the next gives us the special opportunity to create wines that reflect the vintage and have unique personalities. As much as possible, they produce “natural wines.” Natural wines are made with very little influence from the winemaker. Using native yeast from the vineyard and gentle winemaking practices with little or no sulfur during the primary fermentation allows for multiple layers of flavors and a distinctly old-world style of wine.

Alexis Pouillon worked at Chateau Beaucastel in France for several years, where he learned to trust the grapes, take risks, and have faith in the winemaking tradition.

Wineries Near White Salmon – Underwood Washington

ANICHE CELLARS

Rachael Horn and Anais Mera strive to bring wine that is artisanal in quality and true to the ideology of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Love.

GORGE CREST VINEYARDS

Gorge Crest Winery focuses on producing limited quantities of premium “handcrafted” wines from the local region. All grapes are de-stemmed, crushed, and carefully pressed to eliminate stem and skin bitterness caused by high-pressure hydraulic equipment.

Gorge Crest grapes are fermented and aged using a traditional gravity-based siphon system used for centuries by many of the world’s most exclusive wineries. Clean juice is siphoned off the top of the tank during fermentation, so the transfer can occur without disturbing sediment, as is often the case with large-scale commercial pumping equipment. Gorge Crest reds are fermented in stainless steel tanks and then aged and racked in hand-made French and American oak barrels. Whites are fermented in stainless fermenting tanks.

The winery maintains its craft quality standards by producing limited runs of each vintage in small batches. The winery has historically produced a Gewürztraminer, a Pinot Gris, a Pinot Noir, a Merlot, a Syrah, a Riesling, and plans to begin production of a Gamay Noir, a Rosé, and some sparkling types.

HAWKINS CELLARS

After a successful career in the animation industry- working on such groundbreaking films as Shrek, Monster’s Inc, and ANTZ- Thane Hawkins decided it was time for a change. During a six-month leave of absence, he relocated to Oregon, where he immediately fell in love with the Willamette Valley, and more specifically, Pinot Noir. He began making wine out of his garage, and his mixed results verified his passion for wine-making. He set out to get hands-on experience by enrolling in Chemeketa College’s viticulture program, and working harvest at Wine By Joe. In 2007, Methven Family Vineyards hired Thane to be their assistant winemaker. While working for Methven, Thane was presented the opportunity to make a small quantity of his own wine. And thus, Hawkins Cellars was born.

Ten years later, Hawkins Cellars has found a home on Underwood Mountain in the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area, a region of unparalleled beauty similar in climate to Alsace. It is there that Thane is both growing and sourcing cool climate varietals, including Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as continuing to source Rhone varietals such as Syrah, Mourvedre, and Viognier from a stable of world-class vineyard sites.

SAVAGE GRACE WINES

Savage Grace Wines was established in 2011 by owner-wine-maker Michael Savage, with a vintage of Cabernet Franc. His vision is to make old-world style, lower-alcohol, balanced, and terroir-expressive wines. He continues to deepen his core understanding of all stages in the vinification process, to put his philosophy of low-intervention winemaking into practice, where the grape, vineyard, and vintage form a unique balance. Currently practicing regenerative farming, Michael advocates the hands-on in the vineyard and hands-off in the winery philosophy.

Savage Grace Winery is perched on Underwood Mountain in the Columbia Gorge AVA. The estate includes 42 acres that span from 1000 to 1400 feet in elevation. Overlooking the Columbia Gorge, The Columbia River plays an integral role in the weather and temperature surrounding and in the vineyard.

“SAVAGE” – echoes the struggle of the grape to withstand the stress of ripening, along with making wine that is true to the grape, site, and vintage.  “GRACE” – also Michael’s wife’s name- symbolizes what he hopes to achieve as the end result. A wine that is delicate, balanced, approachable, yet expressive.

SOUTH HILL WINERY

Philip and Sheryl Jones purchased land in the Columbia Gorge in 2006. Vineyards were planted, and a winery was built over the next three years. Today this has grown to 45 acres of vineyards on 176 acres. Spencer Hill’s New Zealand success was based on Phil’s wine-making passion for getting things right. Within four years of being the Winemaker at Spencer Hill, the winery had won the top Chardonnay prize in the world at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in London. Many top awards followed over the next two decades. His passion is now focused on the Columbia Gorge, with their son Spencer taking over the lead wine-making duties and Sheryl managing the South Hill Tasting Room.

Spencer Jones has worked alongside Matt and Jules at Spencer Hill and other prestigious wineries in New Zealand. He has also worked at wineries in Sonoma and Oregon. Spencer is passionate about the wines of Washington and Oregon and has joined South Hill Winery to develop the South Hill brand further and take the winery and vineyards into the future.

WILLOW WINE CELLARS

In 2019, Brendan Simpers took the leap and left his full-time job to focus on growing Willow. He and Tarnna Simpers are now at 900 case production annually, including Columbia Gorge Riesling, Chardonnay, Rosé, sparkling wines, Yakima Valley Merlot, and Cabernet Franc.

LOOP de LOOP VINTNER

Loop de Loop wines are high-altitude wines created by Julia Bailey Gulstine and Scott Gulstine. Loop de Loop winery and vineyard are on an extinct shield volcano on the edge of the Cascade Mountain Range (Underwood Mountain). Loop de Loop makes vintage-specific wines that speak of the places they are grown – some very special sites.

Loop de Loop’s Light Anthology vineyard is planted at 1250 feet in elevation, with volcanic, ashy-sandy loam soil on a 33-degree slope facing Southeast. The vineyard also faces the Columbia River, which is key in allowing grapes to be grown here without frost problems. The wines from this little mountain are bright, focused & intense – they are savory, aromatic, lithe, elegant, often mineral, and sometimes even saline.

White Salmon Wine Walk

The downtown White Salmon businesses and the local winemaker community host the White Salmon Wine Walk in celebration of the White Salmon Wildflower Festival.

Enjoy the live music and special Wildflower Festival events and specials as you sip, shop, dance, and mingle in Downtown White Salmon.

Start Planning Your Wine Adventure Today

White Salmon is the perfect gateway to the breathtaking Columbia Gorge wine region, offering a blend of stunning landscapes, unique tasting experiences, and exceptional wines. Whether you’re exploring the vibrant downtown tasting rooms or venturing to nearby vineyards, there’s something for every wine enthusiast. Don’t wait to begin your journey—secure your stay in one of White Salmon’s charming lodging options and make it the home base for your unforgettable wine adventure. Book your lodging now and let the wine, views, and memories flow!